Climate Action Report FOIA Email 11.15.01

1. "Koenig, Steven FPM(O1ES)" <KaenigSF~state gov>
__11/15/2001 03:22:49
Record Type: Record
To: OES Team Climate-DIL <OTC~state.gov>, "(RIA) Nyman, Elisha E" <ce.nyman~state.gov>
Cc: Phil Cooney/CEQ/EOP
Subject: BNA climate change stories
From BNA's 'Daily Environment Report.' For staff use only.
Draft EPA Report on U.S. Climate Policies Open for Review Before Submission
to U.N. 1
Japab Prepares to Launch Ratification, Implementation Proceedings for Kyoto
Pact 2
Draft EPA Report on U.S. Climate Policies Open for Review Before Submission
to U.N.
The Bush administration is preparing to provide the U.N. Framework
Convention on Climate Change detailed information on national greenhouse gas
emission inventories and their climate change impacts, an Environmental
Protection Agency official said Nov. 14.
A draft report communicating the most recent U.S. action on climate change,
including new policies, projects, measures, and inventories, is expected to
be open to public scrutiny Nov. 15, before the Bush administration must
submit it under the U.N. convention.
All but one chapter, "Projections and Effects of Policies and Measures," is
expected to be published in the Federal Register Nov. 15 and available for
comment for 30 days before the administration submits it to the United
Nations as the Climate Action Report required for all signatory nations to
the convention.
Many Differences Since Last Report
Reid Harvey, of EPA's Office of Atmospheric Programs, told BNA Nov. 14 that
much of the information contained in the third Climate Action Report differs
from the information included in the last report submitted in 1997.
Many of the differences stem from new U.N. guidelines for reporting, which
call for more specific projections and details. However, Harvey said, since
the U.S. agencies have required more improved, comprehensive inventories
from industry sectors and completed a national climate change assessment in
2000, the latest Climate Action Report also will offer a better assessment
of U.S. vulnerability to climate change and how the United States could
adapt.

2. The report will provide updates on measures and policies implemented under
the Clinton administration as well as policies initiated under the Bush
administration. For example, according to the EPA announcement, the report
will provide information gathered since President Bush's June announcement
of his intention to implement policies enhancing research and technology.
Observation Techniques
In addition, Harvey said an item not in the previous report that will appear
in the upcoming report is information on what the United States is doing to
observe global climate systems, such as the use of satellites, and sea- and
land-based monitoring.
Draft chapters of the third Climate Action Report are expected to be
available on EPA's national communication Web site at
http://www.epa.gov/globalwarming/publications/natcom.html after a notice for
public comment is published Nov. 15 in the Federal Register, according to
Harvey.
By Pamela Najor
Japan Prepares to Launch Ratification, Implementation Proceedings for Kyoto
Pact
TOKYO--Just days after climate change talks in Morocco ended, the Japanese
government Nov. 12 agreed to begin "full-scale preparations" for
implementing the domestic measures needed to meet the greenhouse gas
reduction targets outlined in the Kyoto Protocol, including sectorial quotas
and higher taxes for heavy polluters.
At its Nov. 12 meeting, the Global Warming Prevention Headquarters chaired
by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi agreed to review the nation's current
Outline for Global Warming Prevention.
It also agreed to "implement full-scale preparations" for submitting the
legislation needed to ratify the Kyoto Protocol, the Prime Minister's Office
announced.
The global warming group, created shortly before climate change talks
started in Morocco at the end of October, is one of many ad hoc government
committees reviewing Japan's climate change strategy, officials said.
The headquarters group also called on the Japanese people to adopt
lifestyles that are more friendly to the environment, and it urged industry
to develop technologies that are more energy-efficient and that release
fewer greenhouse gas emissions.
Government sources said the Koizumi government plans to introduce the
various pieces of Kyoto-linked legislation one by one starting early in